Atlantic District convention delegates, meeting June 8-10 at Concordia College, Bronxvill
Benke, 60, was installed during a convention banquet celebrating the district’s centennial anniversary. The vice presidents’ installation was part of a closing worship service.
The theme of the convention was “100 Years of Engaging the World with the Gospel of Hope.”
Convention delegates re-elected Rev. Charles Froehlich, Dix Hills, N.Y., to the district first vice presidency.
Also re-elected, although not to the same vice presidencies they previously held, were the following:
- Rev. James Jaekel, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., now second vice president;
- Rev. Vernon Schultheis, Woodside, N.Y., third vice president; and
- Dr. Robert Hartwell, Bronxville, N.Y., fourth vice president.
In other action, Atlantic District delegates adopted a resolution that establishes a new Commission on Immigration to interact with LCMS World Relief/Human Care and other church agencies in developing strategies that address immigration issues.
Delegates also gave full support to the Synod’s Ablaze! initiative to share the Gospel with 100 million unreached or uncommitted people by 2017. That action also supports “Fan Into Flame,” which is the program to support the Ablaze! movement by raising $100 million to fund mission projects in North America and throughout the world.
Another adopted resolution continues to support global-mission partnerships initially called for by action of the 2003 Atlantic District convention.
Since 2003, such partnerships have included work with South Asians, especially with tsunami relief, and continues with support of orphanages, other relief organizations and facilities, and Gospel outreach. The district also participated in disaster-response efforts following Hurricane Katrina.
Delegates adopted three separate resolutions to memorialize the 2007 Synod convention in support of 2004 convention actions on ecclesiastical supervision (2004 Resolution 8-01A), the service of women (Res. 3-08A), and participation in civic events (Res. 3-06).
Posted June 22, 2006
